Oracle Database 12c Release 2 has been released on the Oracle Database Cloud, first on the Exadata Express Cloud Service. Many people are waiting for this version to be released on-premise as well. Let’s go through some interesting features of this new 12.2 release.
Oracle 12.2 now allows Oracle Grid Infrastructure Installation using Zip Images for the first time. This applies to Oracle Grid Infrastructure 12c Release 2 (12.2). The installation media has been replaced with a zip file for the Oracle Grid Infrastructure installer. The zip file can be unzipped into the Grid Home path that you want to create, and after unzipping, the installer wizard can be launched.
In previous database releases, you would have had to download the installation media from either the ARU (Automated Release Update) or the OTN (Oracle Technology Network). Then you would unzip the files, and run the installer, either via setup.exe or runInstaller. This would then install the Oracle Grid Infrastructure.
So, this new feature simplifies installation by supplying the Oracle home software image to you in a zip format. You can use this facility to assist in the automation of cloud deployments – using a script to copy the zip file, unzip it and then run a silent install.